Archive for August 2021
Why rapid genome sequencing is key to finding out how long Delta has been in NZ, and how large this outbreak might be
We knew the Delta variant would eventually arrive in Aotearoa, but real-time sequencing, which produces full genomes from positive cases in less than 12 hours, will ensure the lockdown is as short and effective as possible. There are now 21 cases and we can expect more to be reported over the coming days. Genome sequencing…
Read MoreGlobal eradication of COVID-19 should not be dismissed
Eradicating COVID‑19 across the globe is theoretically more feasible than for polio but much less so than it was for smallpox, according to an analysis by New Zealand researchers. The researchers, writing in the international journal BMJ Global Health, ranked the feasibility of eradicating the three diseases based on technical, socio-political and economic factors. Smallpox, which…
Read MoreNew advice for handling eggs due to Salmonella incursion
OHA investigators and collaborators based at ESR and the NZ Food Safety Science Research Centre (NZFSSRC) have had an opinion piece published on Stuff which warns consumers about the emergence of Salmonella Enteritidis. This strain has been linked to 119 cases of salmonellosis since 2019, with 40 percent of those infected ending up in hospital.…
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